Shezmu, messenger/herald of Set

Steel Realm Celestines

Steel Realm Celestines

The messenger of Set is the avatar of the entity known as Shezmu, from the Outer Darkness.

Common Knowledge: Shezmu, as one of the “demons” of the Celestial pantheon, is noted for the vague and nebulous visages; sometimes female, sometimes female, both human and animal headed (lion). Related to the greater power of
Set and therefore of chaos, Shezmu is most often portrayed in stories of destruction, deception, and a few of creation (often experimenting with life essence/blood/tears to create new oils and perfumes).

His sect was persecuted as a by product of the Sun-Bane (imposed by the Lightbringers); because of this, they quickly died out as a cult. Only lone worshippers
and desperate creatures followed the demon… though Shezmu sought allies elsewhere. What became of this is unknown – only that Shezmu sought to win back his power.

Portfolio

Shezmu’s portfolio as a minor entity among the Celestine Pantheon, mostly as messenger of Set, the torturer “of the gods” (many employed Shezmu to extract information in stories – the wine press explicitly), and a schemer
whose plans usually fail is small. He is attributed with giving the knowledge of oils and perfumes. He is also attributed to some vampirism – and even has adherents among those blood drinkers.

Aspects:

  • Animal: [Black] Panther
  • Acts: Torture, Revealing Secrets
  • Bodily: Blood, Nose, Feet
  • Goods: Wine, Perfume, Oils
  • Sensory: Scent

Offerings

  • Major:
  • Minor:
  • Trivial:

Pilgrimages Offerings: These are often made in offering to the faith. A pilgrim will pray that the diety interviene constantly for the good health and success of a loved one – with the Blessings gained going to the object of their prayers to be used in avoiding danger or guarding their health.

Sacred Items

Sacred Places

Pilgrim encounters are unlikely for this deity – there are few minor shrines along roads and places sacred and accessible.

… likely to hold a sanctuary.

Guaranteed to have those of The Risen defending such places.

Full History

Shezmu did not “go quietly into that good night” as the saying goes. Despite his power being diminished, and his followers scattered and destroyed, he was considered a threat by many and he fled. Long had the those of the dark endured his assassins, one of their few vulnerabilities in their own temples. The Celestials had long endured his perversities and taunts, biding their time. And the Lightbringers became his enemy the moment the Sun Bane affected him – to them it was a sign he should be destroyed. He was hounded, his temples razed, and bases of power destroyed until he was trapped in sphere of radiance where he would forever writhe in agony.
Most sages agreed he was somehow imprisoned and will likely never be heard from again. Outside of Nakria, that was to be the edn of his story – except for the persist references to
The Devourer of Hope.

His influence would not die. In the heart of the sun, while his body sizzled in agony, Shezmu divided his mind – the torturer knew the ways of the tortured best, and there was none better who knew how to endure torture. The Devourer of Hope came to life – through ages he worked faint influence to to bring together the knowledge and his influence into a concentrated mote of presence in the from of a book. The book grew in stature, and presence, and it became legend.
And Shezmu learned of the sun, and he spoke to his jailers, and became knowledgeable in their ways. Into the book went his knowledge – a way to nearly defeat the Sun-Bane. And so his cult was born against – the Cult of Shezmu-Torment. The cult of Shezmu-Torment sacrificed many along its thousand year path, creating a conduit to the demon. Though proving insufficient essence to free him from the full effects of the Sun-Bane, it lessened it to a mere torment that Shezmu could abide, and soon he slipped free from his jail, unnoticed. For a short time the cult channelled his power, using it it through methods of pact and sacrifice. The means to do so was recorded on human skin, written in blood, and treated in a wax infused with the tears of a virgin and spread throughout the south – Nakria – first. The original and full text of the book was lost with the destruction of the cult again around CY 5300 as its presence moved north – the only mention of the demon in last few thousand years have been academic.
Real information about Shezmu is considered Protected Knowledge.